If your property is likely to have a vehicle(s) directly outside that isn't yours, please secure this space the day or evening before the photo shoot with your own car(s) or bins, so they can be moved on the day. This is especially important if you don't have a private driveway or off-street parking, such as a terrace house that directly fronts the pavement with little or no front garden.

PRO TIP

When securing a space from obstructions, try to secure at least one extra space on each side of your property to ensure no cars are shown in the photo composition. You can use additional vehicles or bins, and add a note such as "No parking, delivery expected" or something similar to reserve these spaces.

All vehicles (including caravans) should be removed from the driveway. Additionally, hide all bins (including recycling bins), either inside a garage or on the opposite side of the road, ensuring they are not within the possible composition of a shot.

PRO TIP
If your property isn't detached and is close to other properties, part or all of your neighbours' properties may also appear in the photos. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have their vehicles, or at least their bins, moved off their driveway/frontage as well.

During damp weather conditions, it's best to remove vehicles and bins from the driveway the evening prior to the photo shoot to avoid any dry patches showing up in the photos.

PRO TIP

If this isn't possible, a fix for dry patches is to hose or water down the area until the dry patches are no longer visible.

The frontage should be clean and weed-free, with a freshly mowed lawn and trimmed shrubs. Ensure the driveway is spotless, and clean the garage doors if necessary. Don’t forget to clean the front door as well. If there are weeds on the pavement outside that are likely to be shown in the photo, please remove these.

PRO TIP

If there are any communal pavement or grass areas within the likely composition of a shot, it would be beneficial to present this area tidy. This can be achieved by mowing the grass, sweeping paths, and weeding the area.

If you have a lawn, please mow it at least the day before the appointment. Remove any rotary dryer, pet toys, and any pet soils or weeds. Clean the patios and, in sunny conditions (spring/summer), set up your garden furniture, including parasols and cushions, to enhance the outdoor space.

PROP TIP

Avoid hosing or jet washing driveways/patios on the same day of the appointment, as they may not dry out in time and could show up as damp patches in the photos. This is particularly important during the autumn/winter season. Additionally, unless it’s raining, remove any barbecue and furniture covers to present the outdoor space more attractively.

If you have a small garden and a trampoline that dominates it, it will be beneficial to partially dismantle it so it can be easily moved out of the way for various compositions during the photo shoot.

PROP TIP

If you have a friendly neighbour, they may agree to temporarily store it in their garden by lifting it over the fence into their garden.

Although not always, I usually take a shot towards the back of the property, particularly if you have bi-fold doors, a loft extension, or other attractive features to showcase.

PRO TIP

If you think I’m likely to photograph the back of your property, avoid putting anything outside when decluttering. If you’ve moved stuff around and placed it near the back of the house, it will either not be photographed, or I’ll ask you to move it out of sight after the other garden photos have been taken.

This is one of the most powerful and impactful jobs you can undertake. Therefore, door removals should be given serious consideration, especially when they open awkwardly into a room, particularly bathrooms and bedrooms, and obstruct the full view of the room.

Note: When doors have been removed, the composition will be far more appealing and often will show most of the room, as I will be able to shoot from outside of the door frame into the room, avoiding the door being shown in the photo.

CLICK TO VIEW BEFORE & AFTER DOOR REMOVAL

PROP TIP

You may not wish to remove a bathroom door in advance of my arrival due to it being used. So, I recommend loosening the screws and taking out some in readiness for its removal. That way, you shouldn’t have any difficulties with the screws not being easily removed.

Note: Please advise me in advance if you need assistance with any door removals so I can add additional time to the appointment to allow for my help.

If you have a feature solid fuel fireplace or a log burner, you do not need to light it. I can photoshop in some natural-looking and often more appealing flames.

PRO TIP

If the fireplace is a feature, attention to cleaning the housing and dressing it around the area is recommended for a more lifestyle shot, as a close-up composition may be shot.

Ideally, dress the bed with fresh linen and use extra pillows for a hotel/designer look. Extra pillows can be moved from other bedrooms and used in ones requiring the extra stylised look. Fresh linen may look creased, so a good tip is to iron the bedding on the bed, so only the visible creases will need to be removed.

PRO TIP

If any items are visible under the bed from the doorway, please remove them, along with anything on display on top of wardrobes, and items hanging on the back of doors. Also, declutter any bedside cabinets and hide any phone chargers, etc.

The teenage bedroom can often be one of the more challenging spaces to present. The key is to declutter as much as possible. Sometimes, if you have a teenager who's not so keen to help out, advising them that most, if not all, of their friends are going to have a sneaky look online at the house and particularly their bedroom usually does the trick in getting them suddenly proactive. So, do try it out, as it actually works a treat!

PRO TIP
If a bedroom is really small or full to the brim and beyond any form of presentation, then maybe this room can double up as temporary storage space when decluttering the other rooms. Not all rooms need to be photographed, so you can apply the 80/20 rule to this space.

With more and more people working regularly from home several days a week, presenting this space is equally as important as the other rooms. Therefore, the more decluttered and tidy this space looks, the better.

PRO TIP
If removal of clutter into storage is not possible, store items away in neatly stacked storage boxes. Also, tidy up wires by unplugging equipment and hiding them away. Make the space as inviting as possible so that someone can visualize themselves working in the space for 8+ hours a day.

If the door opens into the bathroom opposite to the wall and restricts the view, please give serious consideration to removing the door so the full bathroom can be photographed.

It's best to fully declutter. Close toilet seats, and toilet rolls on holders should be neatly rolled up. Remove all mats and towels, particularly when covering a feature radiator or heated towel rail.

PRO TIP

Create a more stylized look without completely decluttering this room by using selective designer-style products placed in unobtrusive spaces.

Glass shower screens/cubicles cleaning and presentation are one of the most difficult jobs and should be tackled as early as possible. Hard water marks on glass can make a bathroom look unattractive, therefore thorough cleaning should be undertaken as you may need to clean it several times.

PRO TIP

Avoid using the shower within a few hours of the photo shoot to prevent water droplets from being shown in the photo.

Note: Hard water marks on your shower screen/cubicle will show up more, the closer it is to the entrance doorway or likely composition.

All living rooms should be very inviting, but at the same time not over cluttered with cables on show. Also, remove magazines and papers, turn off TVs, dress furnishings with cushions, and remove remote controls and any kids or pet toys.

PRO TIP

If you have a feature fireplace, it's likely to be photographed as a focal point. Therefore, it should be thoroughly cleaned and decluttered, with only a handful of items on display, such as photo frames and flowers. Additionally, some stylised magazines and books can be strategically placed around the room to enhance the image composition.

A dining room should be very inviting, but at the same time not over cluttered. It’s important that the table is not set up as if you were having guests for dinner, as it can look over-staged. This is generally reserved for new build show homes.

PRO TIP

A fresh vase of flowers is usually a great touch as a centerpiece for a dining room table. If the table is marked, use a tablecloth; otherwise, showcase it without any coverings, etc.

The kitchen is usually the most challenging room, so start by decluttering all unnecessary items. Keep only the essential countertop appliances on display, remove anything on top of wall cabinets or appliances, remove calendars, notice boards, and any other items attached to any free-standing fridge/freezers such as magnets. Additionally, remove any hand towels or oven gloves from oven doors or cabinets.

Note: When items are shown on top of cupboards and fridge/freezers, this advertises a possible lack of kitchen storage space.

PRO TIP

If you have an attractive bin, please tuck the bin liner inside so it's not hanging out. Otherwise, please remove it completely out of sight into storage. If visible, remove any items of clothes in the washing machine or tumble dryer if it's within a position or location that is likely to be shown within the composition of a photo.

It's important that extra special attention should be paid to the underside of extractor hoods, as this area is often forgotten (as it's not seen when standing). Since the camera composition is lower than your eyeline, any grease will be visible in the image.

PRO TIP

Also, stainless steel appliances will show up smears if not cleaned properly. Therefore, I strongly advise cleaning with a specialist stainless steel cleaning product, as all other products usually leave smear marks.

It's definitely worthwhile investing time in oven cleaning, especially with glass screen ovens. They are the worst at showing up grease on glass and steel racks inside, which can't be fixed in Photoshop.

PRO TIP

If you don’t have enough time or if the oven is in really bad condition, you can supply an image of the exact oven obtained online or a link to the oven, and I may be able to replace it using Photoshop.

If the utility room is to be photographed, present it as per the kitchen tips. If visible, remove any items of clothes in the washing machine or tumble dryer if it's within a position or location that is likely to be shown in a photo composition, as this can look very unsightly.

PRO TIP

This room is often not photographed, therefore it's an ideal storage location when decluttering the kitchen.

If your property benefits from a child’s playroom, then you most likely have a good-sized family home where a playroom is essential for any interested buyer or tenant. Therefore, presenting this space is most likely going to be hard work, but decluttering is the key to making it look welcoming for any parent or parent-to-be.

PRO TIP

You may need to ask friends or the grandparents for help looking after your children so they don't mess up all of your hard work!

A conservatory should be presented as clutter-free and inviting as possible. If used as an additional type of room, such as an office or dining room, then present it as per that type of room.

PRO TIP

Conservatory glass roofs, whether clear or semi-clear, can show up dirt or debris from surrounding trees and sap off roofs. Therefore, it’s advisable to have the roof and the windows professionally cleaned.

If your property benefits from an attractive entrance hall, landing, or staircase, then this will be photographed. Therefore, declutter all coats, shoes, keys, and don’t forget to thoroughly clean any mirrors and doormats, etc.

PRO TIP
If you have a piece of furniture in a good-sized entrance hallway or on the landing, dress it with fresh flowers or a plant and a lamp, etc., if not already done so.

If your property benefits from an entertainment room, then it’s definitely worthwhile showcasing it by presenting it clutter-free, clean, and tidy. If you have a projector screen, pull that down to show the screen size (a suitable movie screenshot will be added in Photoshop). If you have a pool table, set up the balls and cues on the felt, etc.

PRO TIP

If you have a cinema room, rather than just having a blank screen, if you'd like, I can photoshop in a screenshot of a Marvel movie, Paramount, or Netflix logo, etc. Therefore, if this is something you’d like, please advise me at the time of the appointment; otherwise, it will be left blank, like the picture above.

The furniture layout of a room can significantly impact the quality and overall look of an image. The closer an item of furniture is to where the photograph will be shot (often the doorway), the smaller the room will appear, and the furniture closest to the camera will seem larger than it actually is. Therefore, when possible, even if just for the photo shoot, rearrange furniture to make the room look larger and far more appealing.

PRO TIP

Beds should ideally not be butted up against a wall, unless it's a small single bedroom and therefore unavoidable.

If any windows aren't obscured by either net curtains or blinds, please follow the following guidance:

Thoroughly clean the windows inside and out (this is highly important during the autumn/winter when the sun is low), while removing all obstructions, such as plants, flowers, and photo frames.

• It is recommended to consider a professional for this important and extremely beneficial task.

Note: Even if windows are covered with blinds/net curtains, I thoroughly recommend decluttering all windowsills in all rooms as this provides clean lines.

Important Note: Clear window views are not possible/available when obstructed by items on the windowsill, such as plants, pictures, and ornaments.

PRO TIP

To reduce the need for cleaning all the windows throughout the property, focus extra attention on the windows that have no blinds or nets and will have the sun directly shining through them at the time of the appointment.

On a final note, and hopefully not to be experienced that often, the following are a selection of images of how a property shouldn’t be presented for a professional photo shoot. Proper presentation before I arrive for the photo shoot is essential, as nothing can improve these images.

PRO TIP

If your property is tenanted, I strongly advise visiting the property well in advance of the photo shoot date and checking on its presentation. You may need to negotiate with the tenant to have it somewhat better than currently presented, as my experience indicates that 8 out of 10 tenants make zero or little effort in presenting the property for a photo shoot, especially if you've given them notice.